Handheld diagnostic system with chip-scale microscope and automated image capture mechanism

Abstract

A handheld diagnostic system may include a disposable sample holder for receiving and containing a biological sample and an analysis module having a chip-scale microscope. The sample holder may include a plurality of uniformly spaced tick marks. The analysis module may include a sensor for detecting the tick marks as the sample holder is inserted into the analysis module. The chip-scale microscope may include an image sensor for capturing images of the sample. Each time the sensor detects a tick mark, control circuitry may issue a control signal to the image sensor to capture an image of the biological sample. This type of automated image capture mechanism ensures that images are captured at a uniform spatial distribution even when the sample holder is inserted into the analysis module at variable speed. The analysis module may transmit sample imaging data to a portable electronic device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handheld analysis apparatus, comprising:
 a housing with an opening, wherein the opening is configured to receive a sample holder and wherein the analysis module comprises an image sensor for capturing images of a biological sample in the sample holder as the sample holder is inserted into the opening;   a reference sensor configured to detect each of a plurality of reference markings of the sample holder as the sample holder is inserted into the opening; and   control circuitry configured to trigger image capture operations based on detected reference markings.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the reference markings comprise a plurality of uniformly spaced markings. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising a light source, wherein the reference sensor is configured to receive light from the light source, and wherein the reference sensor is configured to detect each of the markings as it passes through the light from the light source. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the reference sensor comprises a photodiode. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the image sensor comprises a pixel array and wherein the reference sensor comprises a portion of the pixel array. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the sample holder comprises a plurality of test chambers, wherein each test chamber is configured to contain a portion of the biological sample, wherein the image sensor is configured to capture images of the portion of the biological sample in each of the test chambers as the sample holder is inserted into the opening. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the sample holder comprises a transparent portion, wherein the test chambers and the reference markings are located in the transparent portion. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to capture an image each time a reference marking is detected by the reference sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the image comprises an imaging frame, the imaging frame wider than a distance between two adjacent reference markings. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising sample receiving structures controlling the rate of insertion of a sample holder into the opening.